Friday, December 17, 2010

You know what to do...Grab a whisk and really big pot lid and take cover...No no no...actually it's much easier than that.Just link up your favorite Holiday Recipe and join the party!(Don't have a blog, but want to play...just leave a link in the comments!)

Remember to link to your specific Blog Post (not your blog)then go on and check out what everyone else is slingingDrop a comment or 2,since slinging food and running is really bad form!

And go on...Grab a snazzy ButtonYou know you want one!

As promisedI'm Starting the first round of slingin'with my favorite Holiday CookieVanilla Kipferl

Every year we spent Christmas Eve with my Fathers side of the family...and you can bet these where always on the table!Ahhhhhhh...tastes like HOME

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 pinch salt

7/8 cup butter

1/2 cup icing sugar

1 egg

3 teaspoons vanilla sugar (or 1 tsp essence)

1 1/4 cups ground almonds

Directions

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt.Cut in the butter or margarine, and mix until crumbly. Add the remaining ingredients to the flour and mix until a dough forms.Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Divide the dough into manageable balls.Make rolls (ropes) that are approximately 1 inch thick.Cut the rolls into 2 inch pieces, bend the pieces into crescent shapes and taper the ends slightly.Place the kipferl on a baking tray and refrigerator for 15 minutes.This recipe will make just over 2 pans.Bake at 350 degrees F (185 degrees C) for 10 to 15 minutes.

While still warm, roll the kipferl in a mixture of icing sugar and vanilla sugar.

Enjoy!

So these are going out Christmas Evewith a shot of vanilla steamed milk

What do ya say Big Guy in Red...Reckon you got a Band Saw in that sack for me!?!

Being so far from home, we've had to combine some of ouroriginal traditions and come up with a few new ones along the way.It's always great to see what others do to make the holidays special.

Baking seems to be the running theme so far!So in honor of that tradition,and because you're all making some amazing festive treats,I've decided to bump up the launch date of our First Ever

Global Food Fight Friday!

I'll open up the links tomorrow with one of my all timefavorite holiday cookies, and then stand backand see what you've got to sling into the mix.Oh I do hope you can join us for the party...I couldn't possibly handle all those calories myself!

Our family has had a baking tradition for as long as I can remember. Several years running we even made our own chocolates, and of course my mother never did anything by half. She must have had the entire collection of Wilton chocolate molds! Though her greatest achievement, and a memory that will last me a lifetime is the baking fest.

I will NEVER forget the year she turned the guest bedroom into a cold storage. In Canada this is pretty easy to do at sub zero temperatures, stuffing a towel along the door to keep the heat from escaping from the rest of the house. She had turned that room into the biggest walk-in you have ever seen...I swear there wasn't an inch of that queen size bed that wasn't covered in tins and stacked 4 deep! I swear I could hear knocking in the night as the calories tried to escape and find us! It was Divine!

Be sure to drop in tomorrow and link up your holiday favorites,let's see how high we can stack 'em!

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

If you're here by way of Sew Mama Sew's Giveaway day, Welcome...You can stay for a quick tutorial or jump straight to the Giveawayeither way, I'm glad you've dropped by!________________________________________________

fa lalalala la la la la......

Eeeeek...With only 10 days leftthere's no time for procrastinatingTis the season to get crackin...

So today I bring you a little Christmas cheerin way of a short tutorial for someEuropean inspired Christmas ornaments.

Can be used on the tree, as gift tags, gift to friendsor hanging on a string of twine to display holiday cards.

Cut out all of your shapes in the felt of your choice.Use pinking shears to cut a band of gingham for 1 of the large hearts and the smaller heart for the star.(I used a piece of fabric with a heart motif already printed) Cheating.... I know!After cutting your Burlap square, fray the edges slightly by pulling out a few threads.

Now it's time to embellish your fronts...Don't be afraid of embroidery..if you need some help, check out some of the great video how to's on youtube. Have fun, be creative, maybe you have some linen scraps you'd like to add...Lay out all of your designs and secure by stitching. I use a running stitch for most.sew on your buttons and embroider the wording (I use a simple back stitch, but a chain stitch is also nice)

Once you're finished embellishing, place your pieces together (right sides out) and begin stitching. I like to keep a rather long (7" or 18cm) tail at the beginning. Tie your knot at this length then begin stitching from the top of your ornament. To add contrast, I've used a running stitch for some and blanket stitch on the others. Stitch all the way around until you are 3/4 finished. Add a small amount of stuffing and poke into corners (chopsticks are great for this). Now continue stitching. Knot your last stitch and tie off with the tail you left at the beginning. Cut the end to match the other and you can now decide what length you would like your hanging tags*. A simple knot in the end of your tails and your all finished.

*I have longer hanging tags as I like to hang my ornaments from a long piece of twine for my Christmas cards. The extra and different lengths add some character. Add some mini clothes pegs and you have yourself a lovely card bunting.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

I've been playing with wall hoops since last year and finally came up with a few I really like. I needed a way to try out my free motion foot (that I bought 6months ago) I think I tried it once and then put it promptly back into the tray...

it freaked me out that bad! Silly Huh!

Well You know me...I like small art!It's a little less committal and therefore easier to just go for it.I think they turned out quite nicely.

Friday, December 10, 2010

First off let me just say I didn't name it...But man if there was ever such a thing...this is it!

There are several recipes floating around the blogging world, but I realized some of you may not have been lucky enough to stumble upon them yet. So Today I'm slinging some yummy scrumptious totally addictive Christmas Crack your way!

preheat oven, 400 F or approx 205 Cslightly grease baking tray and cover with Saltines or (Crackylu)In a saucepan combine the butter and sugar, bring to boiling and cook for approx 3 min.Pour immediately onto saltines and spread to cover all.Place in oven and bake for approx 5 - 6 minutes.remove pan from oven and immediately sprinkle chocolate over.Wait for chocolate to melt (approx 5 min) then spread to cover.Sprinkle with optional nuts and cool in fridge.Crack into bite size pieces once cooled and try not to eat ALL of it!

And now for a little showing off of the stylish little jarsthe Chooch and I made for all of our friends.I used glass etching to frost the star on the topand then we both went crazy with the glitter on the star tags,which double as a tag and ornament.

Fill with Christmas Crack and hand out to all your skinny friends...They may just not notice that your own thighshave expanded due to eating half a pan of each batch!Oh NO I didn't!...hehe errrrrrrrrmmmm!

Stay tuned in the New Yearwhen Food Fight Friday goes global!We'll be starting our very own Linky party whereyou'll be able to sling your own yummies at us!

Friday, December 3, 2010

Comments now closed, Stay tuned for a winner!________________________________

Yes my friends, another month of Cyber slacking.Mia culpa, miaculpa!I'd get into a list of excuses but you hate those right?!So I'll just say...Sorry!

However, to make up for my absence,and to celebrate throwing 100 posts of Randomness at you all...

It's time for a giveaway.

Let's just jump right into it shall we

I've had a few custom orders lately and have been inspired.I like the challenge, and the creativity it allows.

So for you...Another custom superhero Cape!

We had such a success with the last giveaway,and they are such fun to make...

Here's a few I've made to get your imaginations moving!

So here's how to play...

for your official entry:Leave a comment telling me what you plan to doto spread some joy this holiday seasonThis step is mandatory...all bonus entries will be void without this step.For bonus entries::Follow or subscribe to my random ravings (aka:Blog) :Join our Facebook page:Stop into my Etsy Shop and let me know what product is your favorite.:Share this post via Twitter, Facebook etc

Please leave me a comment for each bonus entry you are snagging!

Or If you're rather impatient and can't wait to win one..You can now head on over to my Etsy Shop and purchase one today!

Good luck!I'll be drawing the winners on Dec 18th so be sure to check back.Due to the personal nature of this order please note that it will not shipdirectly after the giveaway. Please allow 2 weeks for our mutual collaboration.And my sincere apologies for the dead airwaves there for a spell...

Who ME?...

I´m a stay at home mom creating dreams and fun with my wonderfully messy 4 year old, Jax. A Canadian goose who broke from the pack and flew east to Spain in a roundabout journey, got stuck in the sand and refused to budge! Future wife of a wonderfully supportive yacht engineer who is unfortunately at sea far too often...hence forth known as Fhubby. Artist, dreamer, traveller, booboo fixer, Cancer boxing Mom!